The Winnipeg Blue Bombers traded American defensive end Cedric Wilcots II to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for American defensive back Alden Darby Jr. Tuesday morning.

This is the second time the Bombers have traded for Darby in as many years, as the club acquired him in training camp last season in a trade with the Toronto Argonauts.

Darby dressed for 11 games for the Blue Bombers in 2021, including the Western Final and Grey Cup, all starts, and finished with 34 tackles. In 10 games with Hamilton this season, Darby has 23 tackles, one sack and one interception.

Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros and receiver Nic Demski have been named CFL Top Performers for their efforts in Friday’s 31-13 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 17 action.

Collaros completed 14 of 25 passes for 296 yards and four touchdowns, with no interceptions.

Demski hauled in a pair of touchdowns and had five catches for 94 yards.

Lakeside MLA Ralph Eichler said he will not put his name forward for re-election in 2023.

The long-time lawmaker informed his colleagues in the Manitoba Legislative Assembly of his decision on Tuesday morning.

Eichler, 72, was first elected in 2003 and served as Minister of Agriculture for three years after the Tories formed government in 2016.

He was then appointed Minister of Economic Development and Training (later titled Economic Development and Jobs) and held the position from October 2019 to July 2021.

He was returned to the agriculture portfolio in July 2021 and remained in cabinet until January 2022, when Premier Heather Stefanson appointed her first cabinet.

The next general election is due by Oct. 3, 2023.

An 18-year-old woman whose remains were found in The Pas three years ago was the victim of a homicide, RCMP announced today.

Police issued a new appeal for tips in their investigation into the death of Kendara Ballantyne, who would have turned 22 today.

Ballantyne was found dead near the University College of the North on Aug. 6, 2019, 11 days after she was reported missing.

“We need closure. We need justice for Kendara,” her aunt, Lorraine Packo, said in a statement from the RCMP.

Monkeypox vaccine eligibility is expanding in Manitoba, and the province is now offering second doses to those who’ve already been vaccinated with a pre-exposure dose.

The monkeypox vaccine was already available in Manitoba to men who have sex with men and meet certain other criteria, including those who were diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection in the past six months. Now, eligibility is expanded to those who’ve had an STI diagnosis in the past year, sex workers regardless of gender, and workers in venues that might come into contact with monkeypox-contaminated items.

The expanded eligibility follows National Advisory Committee on Immunization guidelines.

Manitoba’s current eligibility criteria are as follows, according to the provincial government:

• cisgender, transgender or two-spirit people who self-identify as belonging to the gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) community and who meet at least one of the following criteria:
  • have received a diagnosis of a sexually transmitted infection in the last year (expanded from six months);
  • have had two or more sexual partners in the last 90 days;
  • have attended locations for sexual contact (e.g. bath houses or sex clubs) or are planning to;
  • have had anonymous sex in the last 90 days (e.g. using apps, online sites, formal/informal gatherings) or are planning to;
• any sexual contacts of the individuals described above;
• individuals who self-identify as sex workers, regardless of self-identified sex/gender (new); and
• staff or volunteers in sex-on-premises venues where workers may have contact with objects or materials that may be contaminated with the monkeypox virus without the use of personal protective equipment (new).

 

A man found dead in the Burntwood River in Thompson has been identified, and Mounties say his death was not criminal.

Gods Lake Narrows community members had been searching the river, just west of the Miles Hart Bridge, for a missing person when they came across the man’s remains on the afternoon of Sept. 28.

An autopsy has identified the man as Steven Linklater 62, who was reported missing to RCMP on Sept. 13, Mounties said Tuesday. RCMP don’t think criminality was a factor in his death.

An Indigenous activist who is part of an encampment on the lawn of the Manitoba legislature has been taken into police custody.

Trina Francois, also known as Si Phi Ko, was put into a police paddy wagon Tuesday afternoon, accused of breaching the peace.

At least two others were arrested.

Witnesses reported dozens of police officers were on the legislature campus.

The justice minister was set to give a statement about the removal of two illegal camps at the legislature.

On Monday, protesters had tried to erect another teepee.